International Guest House

A friend and I recently stayed here on a brief visit to DC, and it was by far my favorite place I have ever stayed! The staff (volunteers) were very friendly and instantly made us feel at home. Evening tea and breakfast each morning were a wonderful opportunity to mingle with the hosts as well as other guests and hear about their experiences in the city... we ended up visiting places we hadn't even heard of based on their recommendations, and were very glad we did! Though these were not an issue for us (many were a "plus" in our opinions), there are a few potential downsides: -11pm curfew. Because the front door is always locked, you have to be back to the house by 11pm or there will not be anyone to let you inside. -slight religious component. It is run by Mennonite volunteers, so there is a brief devotional and prayer before breakfast each day, but there is nothing stopping you from coming late to breakfast; and you are obviously not required to participate, just be respectful and quiet at this time. -reserve by # of beds rather than # of rooms... if you are traveling alone, you will likely end up with a roommate! They have 2-bed and 3-bed rooms, so if you are traveling in a group, this should not be an issue. All rooms have twin beds. -Diverse guests. As the name suggests, it attracts many international travelers as well as those from the U.S... if you do not like meeting people from different cultures, this place is not for you! Overall, it was a wonderful stay! It was truly a home away from home, and I already want to go back! In the words of the friend I was traveling with "There have been plenty of times that I went on a trip and didn't want to leave the place, city, etc... but this is the only time I have ever not wanted to leave the accomodations."

A great stay for us, close to downtown. Andy & Dirk were most helpful helping us get aquainted with the city & the transportation system. Breakfast was simple as was evening tea but gave you a chance to meet people from other cultures/countries. Great location, close to buses & a clean environment. Sharing bathrooms not a problem at all. If you are looking for a good value, this is it.... Danny & Martha - fulltimeRV'ers Sioux Falls, SD (currently in Elmira, NY)

The International Guest House is a lovely place to stay while visiting Washington DC. The most outstanding feature was the tea served at 9 pm. As many guests as possible would gather in the evenings for tea and cookies. We shared our days' adventures and discussed many other topics. My husband and I would rush back every evening to enjoy the company of the other guests. Pros: Evening tea, great variety in guests, safe location, knowledgable staff, very clean, price (very good value!), quite close to transportation Cons: Small beds, shared bathrooms only

Andy and Anita take great care to make their guests feel confortable and at home. They convinced us that also in America kindness and good personal relations are more important than the dollar. We enjoyed especially meeting people of different countries and cultures every evening.

I am so thankful that I cancelled my booking at a pricey hotel near the Convention Center, and found 8 nights available at IHG! It was a 'home away from home' experience. The staff could not have been more cordial, accommodating and helpful in every way. A lovely older home in a genuine tree-lined neighborhood, safe to boot, and only a few miles from the center of Washington, the IHG offers complimentary breakfast [yummy fresh muffins!], thrice-daily teas, Wi-Fi Internet access in each room, a general purpose/recreation room, quiet, comfort, caring and care, cleanliness. The bus to downtown is only half a block down the street and operates every 5-15 minutes from early morning to late at night. It connects to the Metro, according to one's wishes. There are 2 single beds in each room, and a singleton often will have a roommate. Bathroom is shared and impeccably clean. Particularly enchanting is the astonishing variety of guests from all over the world, each with 'a story to tell'. Although run by Mennonites, other than a brief meditative reading and prayer at the communal breakfast, religion is not discussed unless one wishes to do so. I plan to stay there 'next time' in DC, and I will steer my friends to the IHG, even coercively! 'Such a deal/steal'!

I can't say enough nice things about this place. It's on a quiet street, has public transportation nearby that takes you to the National Mall, and you simply cannot beat the price. For only 4O bucks a night I got a comfy place to sleep, breakfast, and home baked cookies at tea time. It's by no means luxurious, and you may have to share a room and bathroom(it was not busy during my stay so I had a room to myself), but at that price, you'll have no complaints. Best of all were the lovely volunteers at the guest house. They create a warm, family atmosphere and go out of their way to help you figure out how to get around, what to see, ect. I had a great time and will stay there anytime I happen to be in DC

both the place and the people are very nice, they impressed me.

This charming home is a bastion of safety, comfort and care. The staff is splendid - I wanted for nothing. Public transportation is very close; the breakfasts are plentiful and good, the rooms clean and charming.

the place is home away from home the place i would like to stay in for ever i stayed for one night as i had a conference at marriot wordpark hotel , belive me not i regret the 4days i spent at marriot just coz it had already been booked otherwise i wouldnt have mind choosing the guest house against the hotel. Thanks to all the staffs .

I stayed in a perfectly adequate air conditioned room with my two teenage daughters for 3 nights. With the assistance of the very friendly, helpful staff. we were able to easily figure out the public transportation and get to all the places we wanted to see. They even provided SmartCards. We met some interesting people from all over the world. The breakfasts were not much more than cereal and toast, but for the price, you can't beat it. Highly recommend!

I stayed there a few days on my first visit to DC and have wanted to stay here ever since. The staff is wonderful and the service is exceptional. I was amazed at what we got for the money. I met many interesting people there from many different countries. I gained new friends and great experiences. This is a great place to stay.

We loved our stay. 4 miles from the Mall & museums. Very friendly hosts. Clean & quiet accommodations. Great residential neighborhood.

I went there to stay for 3 days and ended up staying for 17 days.The atmosphere, service and people are amazing. I love this place and if I had the chance to come back to DC again, I will definitely stay there. It's very comfortable, simple and cozy, and the staff are super nice...I just love it. Manar, Syria

I stayed at the IGH on August 10, 2009 and had a wonderful experience. They offer various bits of information for people new to the area including maps and metro/metrobus schedules. There is breakfast in the morning where people can just sit and read the paper or chat with the others staying at the house. Internet is available for people to check the email and such. It is such a wonderful experience for the amount paid. You spend on average $90+ to stay at area hotels. I spent $35 to stay there and had better accomodations. And, no, I didn't mind sharing a room with someone I didn't know. Being new to the area, it's nice to meet people that are having the same experiences as oneself...which doesn't happen just anywhere. Thanks guys and I'll be back.

We stayed there for one night on 3/18/09. The short DC trip made us so tired, IGH was so cozy that we get enough rest. The staff were very nice and kind, beds were clean, and the environment was like back home. Yes it's a little bit north but we want to stay there next time when we go to DC again. It's the best choice for backpacker like us, I believe you will like it too!!

What an amazing find! We stayed for 3 nights and hope to get back in the spring. The staff was wonderful and the accommodations comfortable. It felt like home away from home. Highly recommended.

The Inn felt warm and cozy, a home away from home. The innkeepers and the staff were very humble and friendly people. The breakfast and the tea and cookie time were faboulous!....all HOME MADE!!!! I personally loved it!

I have stayed here 3-4 times and always been pleased with my visits. IGH is run by Mennonites but beyond a polite prayer before breakfast, religion is not discussed unless so desired. I have stayed at many hostels the world round and would describe the setup here as similar to one. Bedrooms can be communal (though through luck, I often have one to myself) and bathrooms are like what you would find in a college dormitory. The exception is that the hosts are always quite warm (a hit or miss at many hostels) and you get to know them during the evening social tea and also at communal breakfasts. If you can sacrifice plush beds and private baths (that generally push B&Bs up into astronomical rates in the States) for a lower price but still desire the warm reception that a B&B offers (vs. some hostels) then this is definitely the place for you. You are guaranteed to meet a variety of folks of all ages from around the world broadening your horizons without emptying your wallet!

This guest house is operated by a very friendly staff of resident volunteers. Breakfast and tea time is offered where socializing is encouraged. Breakfast is on a set schedule a begins with prayer. Choices are fairly limited to coffee, juice, bread and cereal. Packaged snacks and soups are always available for purchase downstairs. This is like staying as a guest in a private home. It offers a pleasant, social setting that is clean, secure and affordable. It is also located near a main street where you can catch a bus heading just a few straight miles into the heart of DC where all the main attractions are located.

For $35, it was a real bargain in DC. Just don't expect your own room, private bathrooms etc. The volunteers and staff are very friendly and helpful. While this place is run by a religious organization(Mennonite church), this only comes clear at the breakfast table where a passage from a spiritual text is recited along with grace before the meal.

I first stayed at the International Guest House in October, 2008, but this certainly won't be my last visit. This house is gorgeous, comfortable, spotlessly clean and well-maintained by a great group of volunteer hosts who provide home-made treats and warm conversation at breakfast and at evening tea. In addition, I had the opportunity to meet new friends from around the world, as the house attracts many international guests. I'm so glad I found this home away from home in DC! Karen, Wisconsin

We had a lovely overnight stay at the International Guest House. I would certainly recommend it for anyone needing basic accommodations. And we will certainly book again.

This place is just really friendly and very reasonably priced. Unless you're a couple, you may share a room with the same gender, but the rooms are large and there are nice, clean bathrooms. Since the house is not too big, there is a a cozy family atmosphere without overdoing it. It attracts nice people from all over the world. Delicious breakfast, taken together at 8am, where you can meet your fellow guests.

The volunteers here do everything to ensure you have a lovely stay. It is a bargain at 35 dollars a night, and the rooms are nothing like their hostel equivalents I've stayed in. The place is clean, the evening tea served is convivial and a good place to chat to 'real Americans'. I really enjoyed this place. Karl, Northern Ireland

The folks at the IGH are super friendly and go out of their way to make sure that you are comfortable and feel welcome. Meeting other guests from all over the world and having scheduled times to connect with each other is a huge plus, as well!

If you do not expect anything fancy like a dream B&B then this is just for you. Inexpensive, neatly maintained place, extraordinary friendly service and good and hearty food. If you are travellers with these simple needs then this is the best place to stay. The only issue my boyfriend had with this place was that he thought that the sound proofing in this place is bad and the kids in the next room disturbed his sleep. But overall I liked it.

Very friendly, very personal, very special for people who want to meet people - and incredible cheap.

I was so very delight with every aspect of my stay - the staff were engaging, helpful and kind; the rooms were lovely, and the community building times of group breakfast and evening teas were very special to me. I will return, and will recommend for others to visit as well.

Thanks so much to Wilbur , Helen , Salome and Phyllis about their great hospitality.

After several tiresome walks and lot's of sightseeing Wilbur and Helen offered a great tea and nice conversations in the evening which enriched the stay. The homemade muffins in the morning were delicious. Thank you very much. If you do not only want to travel but also get some nice talks that's the place to go.

My words can not express the sincere gratitude and appreciation I felt for each staff person at the International Guest House. I felt nothing but kindness and consideration from the time I walked in the door until I left.

We stayed 4 nights. Hospitality was excellent. Definitely would recommend to others, and will definitely come back again if/when we come back to DC again.